ITWA GENERAL MEETING, NEW YORK, 7 SEPTEMBER 2007

Apologies for absence: Chris Bowers, Chris Jones, Joel Drucker, Mark Winters, Michelle Kaufman

Eleanor Preston announced the result of the email vote re the board and the presidency. The votes were also counted by an independent observer from the ITF. The results were as follows:

To keep the present size of the board: for 45, against 16

To keep the present system of the board rather than the membership voting for the president: for 33, against 29

Eleanor said that the board had agreed on a new structure as follows:

Chairman: Neil Harman (also Wimbledon liaison)
Vice President (Europe/Australasia/Asia): Eleanor Preston (also media training, player liaison, Australian Open liaison)
Vice President (North America): Sandy Harwitt (USA, US Open liaison)
Vice President (South America): Francisco Moreira (also membership)
Treasurer: Chris Bowers (Administration/Wimbledon liaison)
Board member: Cecile Soler (Europe/Roland Garros)
Board member: Paul Newman (Europe/communications)
Board member: Marco Keller (Europe/membership)
Board member: Sebastian Fest (Europe/Americas)
Administrative secretary: Frances Crane

(NB Lisa Dillman was subsequently co-opted on to the board in place of Tom Tebbutt, who had resigned)

Neil Harman, the new chairman, welcomed the good turn-out in the email vote. He placed on record his thanks to the past chairmen, Barry Flatman, Richard Evans, Eleanor Preston and Matt Cronin. He said that Geoff Pollard, of Tennis Australia, had invited him in his new ITWA capacity to address the Grand Slam chairmen in Melbourne in January. Neil asked all members to let him know if they wanted any issues to be raised with the Grand Slam chairmen.

Paul Newman explained that he had taken on the task of improving communications between the board and the membership. He said he would be sending out a regular newsletter to keep members up to date with ITWA matters. Ubaldo Scanagatta and Eleanor Preston both stressed the importance of better communications.

Sandy Harwitt addressed the problem of lack of media seating at the US Open. She said she had taken up the issue with the USTA, pointing out that there was no such problem at the other Grand Slams, but no improvement had been forthcoming. Sandy called for members and their sports editors to send letters of complaint to the USTA. She said she would be happy to collate the letters and present them to the USTA.

There was discussion about other problems at the US Open, including the absence of TV coverage from outside courts, a lack of statistical information and the poor mobile phone signal in the media room.

Neil said that, in addition to any letters that members or their sports editors might write, he would write to the USTA within the next fortnight outlining the problems 

Liza Horan, president of the US Tennis Writers Association, agreed with the complaints that were aired. She hoped that the USTWA and ITWA could work together to resolve the problems with the USTA.

Liza invited ITWA members to enter the USTWA’s ninth annual Writing Contest, stressing that it was not just for American writers. Entries in a foreign language were also allowed, provided they were accompanied by an English translation. The entry fee for non-USTWA members is $5. See www.ustwa.org

Liza said the USTWA had launched a “state of tennis coverage” initiative in an effort to improve the quality and quantity of tennis coverage in the US.

Francisco Moreira said the new board hoped to improve the distribution and accuracy of ITWA membership cards. He hoped that next year’s cards would be available at the Australian Open.  He asked any members who thought their names, organisations or contact details were incorrectly listed on ITWA records to let him know.

It is hoped that next year’s handbook will include photographs of members. Francisco said that anyone wanting to update their photograph with ITWA should send one to him as soon as possible.

Marco Keller said that membership issues for next year would be discussed in October. It was therefore important for him to be informed of any applications for membership by the end of September. He also said that the board would review the membership of some individuals who may no longer fulfil ITWA criteria.

member SERVICES

Member list with addresses, phone and e-mail addresses
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2005 hotel information (Word document)